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Last night my daughter and I had the opportunity to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. It was everything we thought it would be and then some. Let’s start with the people. There is not a bad performance from anybody in the cast. While this entire body of star-studded performers shone brilliantly (and I do mean all of them), Sandra Bullock gives one of her best performances–period. Her character is both gutsy and gut-wrenching. She carries you along in such a way that you literally “feel her pain.” But it is not just the actors–it is the lighting, the camera work, the music, the setting, etc. This is a performance in which everything works.

However, one of my favorite elements of the film is what it does not do. So often in a storytelling environment the “storyteller” is so concerned you get the message that “the point” is put forth so forcefully and “in your face” that it loses it’s impact. Such is not the case for this film. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close allows the images to speak for themselves. When a mere look or a single image suffices to convey volumes, the movie does not turn preachy–and in doing so (or not doing so) the impact is all the more palpable. And there are many of those moments in this movie.

As a vehicle for reliving the pain of 9/11 it is a disturbing film–and we vicariously experience that pain through nine year old Oskar Shell whose father (Tom Hanks) died in the World Trade Center. Meant as a tool to get his socially awkward son to get out among people Thomas Shell had created an elaborate “scavenger hunt” for his son. This had been an ongoing part of their relationship. Soon after the death of his father Oskar finds a key and he is assured that his dad meant for him to find this and his mission is to find the lock this key fits and Oskar is convinced that if he is able to do so then there will be a “message” that his dad meant for him. So the “hunt” goes on.

As we walk through this narrative with Oskar as our guide we will address the best and worst of the human condition, issues like belief (and disbelief), forgiveness, love, hatred, trust and the lack thereof), anger, abandonment and redemption. There are ways in which it is a very difficult story to watch and yet it is absolutely necessary that we do so.

This is a movie that you will reflect on long after leaving the theater. I would imagine that important discussions will ensue. There are scenes and moments that you will revisit. And in spite of the tears you may have shed you will be very, very glad you afforded yourself the opportunity.

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